Vizio M321i Review (M321i-A2)

32 inch 1080p 120Hz Smart LED TV

This 32 inch LED is the smallest of the M series that goes all the way up to 80 inches. Some of the features like 240Hz processing and 3D were shed along the way, but not many looking for a 32 inch set are going to be after features like those. Instead you are going to get an attractive looking TV with the Razor LED design and a great picture at a more competitive price.

Weaknesses

No physical buttons on the TV cabinet for manual adjustments (channel, volume, etc.)

Limited Remote control/menu functionality (feels dated)

Picture Quality Rating: 8.3/10

The overall picture quality of this TV will depend a lot on the picture mode you select. Black levels are reasonably saturated, and the TV certainly has plenty of brightness in whites thanks to the backlight. Image edges don't compete with some of the better Sony TVs on the market, but they were far from bad. From a calibrated picture setting, we noticed a slight push toward yellow/green in color rendition. There is only a 2 point calibration option and no Warm white balance settings. See our calibration settings for more on picture settings. See some of the other picture mode options below.

Included Preset Picture Modes

Vizio always has lots of Picture Modes to choose from, never as good as a calibrated picture setting but it's nice to have choices:Vivid – Over-amped in every wayStandard – Comes with contrast set to 80 and brightness 50, backlight Game – Some TVs have hidden the Game mode but Vizio makes it easy to find right there in the Picture mode settings. It's specifically designed to reduce lag time during gaming using a combination of LED lighting, panel refresh rate, and internal processing.Computer Mode – Very unusual but useful to have this right there in the Picture mode options. Calibrated – Another very unusual but useful mode to choose from, this is the best setting out of the box, but the TV may have a slight yellow, green ;push here.Calibrated Dark – Obviously this mode is for use in a dark room environment. We thought it was overly dim.

Note: From Calibrated Mode we found it unusual that there was no Warm color temperature setting. The color temp setting in the more adavnced menu was set to normal when in Calibrated mode. The other color temperature options are Cool, Computer, and Custom.

120Hz Processing

The smaller M series TVs drop the 240Hz refresh rate in favor of a 120Hz panel. This isn't necessarily a downgrade since the noticeable difference between 120 and 240 is much smaller than the 60 to 120 jump. Plus, as the screens get smaller it gets harder still to tell the difference. The 120Hz processing does a good job at smoothing fast action and motion blur on the M321i. There is some programming where this feature will produce unwanted effects, but a quick disabling of the feature will solve that problem. The faster processing panel is also great for games that involve a lot of camera movement.

Local Dimming

Local dimming (Smart Dimming feature) on the M321i works to control brightness and contrast in specific areas of the TV. Though we do not see a whole lot of difference when utilizing the feature, it provides a glimpse at better processing and LED lighting on this TV vs. lower end. The specific areas are known as zones and the screen on this TV is divided up into 16 of them. That's not as many as some of the other local dimming LED TVs out there, but the effect is subtle but good. The zones are able to darken individual areas of the screen for higher contrast in dark scenes.

Features Rating: 8/10

Internet Features

The Vizio M series pushes the Vizio Internets Apps, or V.I.A. smart TV platform. It brings just about all the Premium Apps you are really going to use, or need, to the living room. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Hulu Plus, M Go, Netflix, Pandora, Rhapsody, VUDU, Amazon, and Yahoo! TV Widgets are a few of the long list that can be accessed right out of the box. Vizio's Apps selection and menu seem somewhat out of date and with the exception of the dedicated Apps buttons on the remote does not work extremely efficiently. The V button in the middle of the remote accesses Smart TV function is not labeled.

Appearance and Design – Uninspired but not Tired

The M321i goes the extra mile and includes an ultra slim quarter inch black gloss bezel that surrounds the edge to edge glass of the screen. A very advanced look for a value TV. The silver metal base and neck are give it a solid construction and feel. The profile is razor thin at around 2 inches and competes with some of the most advanced LED TVs on the market. Unlike other manufacturers Vizio places their logo on the bottom right of the TV which leaves the middle bottom front looking somewhat empty. Overall a good B-grade design.

Wifi Remote Control

The buttons on the remote are too small in many cases. There are dedicated Smart TV and 3D buttons as well as Netflix, M Go, and Amazon for quick access to those Apps.

This TV includes Wifi Direct universal remote. That means the remote works with the TV's built in wifi. You won't need line of sight like traditional remotes for the TV to pick up a button press. It's a great addition and adds to the ease of use Vizio is going for.

Value Bang for the Buck Rating: 8.9/10

The 32 inch M321d sells for a modest $398 and is very attractively priced for this size and feature set. The LG 32LN5700 has the same set of features and sells for a bit more. This TV should be a great seller.

Overall Rating: 8.4/10

Quick Specs

Diagonal Measurement: 31.5"

Dimensions With Stand: 28.61” W x 18.82” H x 7.46” D

Dimensions Without Stand: 28.61” W x 17.08” H x 1.95” D

Weight With Stand: 18.53 lbs

Weight Without Stand: 14.34 lbs

1920 X 1080 Full HD Resolution

3 HDMI and 1 USB Ports

Having reviewed and written about Television Technology for over 10 years, Wiley never tires of researching the newest qualitative trends related to the technology. Most people do not get excited about possibilities behind the latest video engine...Wiley does. Read more about Robert